Approximately 430 participants helped raise close to $85,000 during the "Relay for Life" held last Friday and Saturday.

"It was a total success... from beginning to end," said co-chair of the relay committee, Rena Lull.

Thirty-one teams turned out for the overnight fund-raiser at the Cooperstown Westville Airport to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The relay is a community event where people camp out and take turns walking or running around a track to raise funds to fight cancer.

"This 'Relay for Life' is about honoring those who didn't make it. It's about appreciating our family and friends and caretakers who love us. It's about strengthening our own resolve for our will to survive," said Paul Renckens Jr., who had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome.

"This night belongs to our survivors," said Lynn Green, co-chairperson for the relay committee.

During the song "Learning to fly" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the opening ceremony, participants were greeted with two parachuters, Pete Mravlija and Les Burton, who jumped from a plane piloted by Rob Craigmyle. Burton carried an American flag while Mravlija displayed a banner of "Hope."

Being lead by the hope banner, the survivors took the first lap of the relay around the track of luminary candles.

Lull said at least 2,000 luminary candles must have been purchased and lit Friday evening.

Closing ceremonies included the release of white pigeons during Lee Ann Womack's song "I hope you dance," she said.

"It was just wonderful," said Lull.

"I think it's something that people have to experience," said Cathy Hughes, of Gilbertsville, a 10-year survivor of breast cancer. She had participated in the "Relay for Life" with her girl scout troop, Cadet Troop 822, for the past 4 years.

Although she couldn't attend the relay this past weekend, Troop 822 said they had a good time.

"All the girls want to do it again next year," Hughes said.

Besides participating in the actual relay, the girls gathered information from cancer survivors for the creation of "Project Hope." The information will be applied to posters and hung in doctors offices, hospitals and clinics in the area.

"We felt that the 'Relay for Life' is an opportunity to gather survivorship statistics and to present that information to the public, thus giving many people hope that they, too, can survive cancer," said Hughes. "It's all about hope."

Hughes said the girl scouts were very pleased with the response they received on Friday and Saturday.

Nancy Rifanburg, the American Cancer Society's Community Executive, noted relay sponsors.

"Without them, this event would not happen," said Rifanburg. "We're very, very fortunate to have the support of people in this community that underwrite the cost of putting this event on."

Corporate sponsors include New York Central Mutual, Blue Cross of Blue Shield of Utica/Watertown, the Colonial Agency, Wilber Bank, Don Olin Realty and the Seaver Family.